Post/Author/DateTime	Post
tonylf 04-10-04, 06:09 PM	Using 3.5 rules, can Supernatural abilities be used as attacks of opportunities? Two examples: A shadows' strength drain ability is listed as a SU. If a player moves through a space the shadow threatens, can the shadow use this drain ability as its AoO on the player? A Beholder' eye attacks are also listed as SU. Can the beholder say, charm monster as a AoO on a player? thanks tony
Inigo Carmine 04-10-04, 06:15 PM	it depends. If using the supernatural ability is an action all its own, then no. If the supernatural ability is a side-effect on a successful melee attack (similar to poison), then yes. I think a few undead have energy draining abilities that function like this. The idea behind an AoO isn't that you see an opening and then make an attack into it, it's a melee attack that you were performing anyways that normally didn't have a chance of landing. Because the defender let their gaurd down, it now has a reasonable chance of succeeding. This is why you can't cast spells or make ranged attacks as attacks of opportunity.